Jesse Mogg led the way for Montpellier in a 32-15 win over Bordeaux on Monday morning (AEST), a match that almost read like an Aussie derby.
Mogg, playing at fullback, scored a crucial try to help his side break away from the men in maroon, their first win of the Top 14 season, while Nic White played 16 minutes off the bench for Montpellier.
Luke Jones played 60 minutes for Bordeaux in the game, starting in the second row for the third consecutive week.
Wallabies veteran, Adam Ashley-Cooper, remains on the sideline for Bordeaux as they monitor his recovery from a concussion he suffered in the second Bledisloe Test.
Mike Harris was handed the keys to Lyon’s attack and took full advantage in a 32-13 win over Grenoble.
Playing at 10, Harris scored a try and booted seven points in the victory for the newly-promoted Lyon.
Toulon’s Top 14 chances suffered another blow on Sunday morning (AEST), with the glamour club losing to Brive, in an effort coach Diego Dominiguez described as ‘rubbish’, according to AFP.
"The truth is we should have three defeats. Against three teams playing for survival we should have three defeats -- that's the most worrying thing," moaned outspoken Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal.
Dominguez concurred: "The president is right, we were rubbish! We don't deserve to win."
With Matt Giteau is still recovering from ankle surgery and Drew Mitchell with the Wallabies, Toulon is very light on capped Wallabies, though former Waratahs and Brumbies back Matt Carraro debuted for the French side in the match.
Liam Gill played 21 minutes off the bench for Toulon in the loss.
JAPAN TOP LEAGUE
George Smith’s Suntory Sungoliath put a half-century on Digby Ioane’s Honda Heat, with the Heat having no answer in a 50-0 romping.
Smith, playing at blindside, notched a try in the 27th minute, pushing the margin to 17-0 before Suntory piled on the points, while future Reds teammate Hendrik Tui had a double playing at number eight.
Ioane played out the full match for Honda on the left wing, though didn't have much opportunity to make an impact.
Wycliff Palu came off the bench for Toyota Verblitz, in their 27-10 win over Kubota that put them on top of the competition.
Anthony Fainga’a’s Kintetsu Liners snatched their first 2016 win with a 26-19 victory over the Coca-Cola Red Sparks, with the former Reds back playing at outside centre in the clash.
Berrick Barnes played a starring role as defending champions Panasonic claimed their first win of the season, 30-6 over Kobelco Steel.
Scott Higginbotham’s NEC Green Rockets had another loss, this time a 25-8 defeat at the hands of Toshiba Brave Lupus.
PREMIERSHIP
Saracens handed Cooper Vuna’s Worcester a lesson on Saturday night (AEST), with the defending champions taking a 35-3 victory in their opening clash.
Vuna played the full match on the left wing, though the Warriors had little chance to attack.
James Horwill’s Harlequins snuck away with a 21-19 win over Premiership newcomers Bristol, with the former Wallabies captain playing the full match in the second row.
Wasps pushed their prospects as title contenders, with a 25-20 win over Exeter overnight.
Kurtley Beale is still a spectator of the Wasps’ progress, recovering from a knee injury, but the Chiefs debuted two former Wallabies in the nailbiter, with Greg Holmes playing 25 minutes and Dave Dennis coming on in the back row with 17 minutes left.
Peter Betham played the full match in Leicester’s thrilling win over Gloucester, with the Tigers overcoming a 31-7 deficit to win 38-31.
